Electrode holder



Oct. 5. 1943. R. M. STAFFORD ELECTRODE HOLDER l Filled aune 4, 1942 77, .///////,////l f///////// m rwwwtofa HOY M. STAFFORD da. am,

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Patented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE HOLDER Roy M. Stafford, Beaumont, Tex. Application June 4.1942, Serial No. 445,699

10 Claims.

This invention relates to Yelectric arc welding and more particularly to improvements in weld rod or electrode holders for use in such method of welding.

`An object of the invention is to provide a holder which is simple in construction and operation and which is capable cf extensive and enicient use without repair.

Another object is to provide a holder in which the electrode is gripped by lrelative rotation of parts, one of which is provided with a oating or swivel Contact to move into desired engagement with the weld rod or electrode and at the same time to have a. wiping and elilcient engagement with the conductive body of the holder.

Still another object is to provide a holder including a conductive body with a oating contact onone end thereof, such contact being prdvided with an axial stem extending into and swivelly connected to the body.

A further object is to provide a grooved stem,

on the floating contact to receive metal displaced therein and swivelly hold the contact in place upon the holder body.

A still further object is to provide a holder comprising a body with a Boating contact on one end thereof, the body and contact having complementary annular end faces which move into frictional engagement and provide a low resistance connection betweenthe body and Contact when :"1

an electrode is clamped against the outer end of such contact and theholder is ready for use.

The foregoing objects together with additional objects will be more fully apparent from the following description taken `in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of mod'- ed iorm oi the ioating contact lfeature shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another enlarged sectional view of the floating rcontact feature showing the use of displaced metal from the body of the holder for holding the fioating contact in piace.

In the illustrated embodimentof the invention shown in the drawing the body member i of conductive material is provided with a radial flange 2 and threaded areas 3 and 4r at opposite sides thereof. The handle 5 of insulated mate-- rial has a bore S to receive the 2. The bore S has a reduced portion which is internally threaded for engagement with the threaded area 3 and which also provides a shoulder 1 which is engaged by the flange 2 on the body I. Beyond the threaded area. 3 the bore in the handle 5 is enlarged sufficiently to receive a conductor cable I0 comprising conductors II and insulation I2 covering such conductors. The conductors II are secured to the body I in any suitable manner such as soldering, brazing, or suitable mechanical clamping means such as that shown in my copending application Serial No. 389,167, filed April 18, 1941.

An important feature of the invention resides `in the manner of obtaining the desired conductive engagement between the body I and the electrode I5 held by the holder. This feature, to which reference will now be made, is such that the desired engagement is effected with each and every electrode consumed through the use of the holder over a long period'of time.

The electrode holder and the electrode held thereby should constitute a relatively rigid assembly so that the operator is assured at any instant of the angular direction of extension of the electrode I5 radially of the handle 5. At the same time it is,of course, imperative that an efficient conductive path for the ilow of electr-lc current from the body I to the electrode I5 be provided. This means that considerable clamping pressure with the electrode be had. Such clamping pressure tends to form a slight transverse indentation in the end of the member making engagement with the periphery of the electrode. Once such indentation is initiated, repeated clamping has a cumulative effect. Such curnuiative effect is accompanied by a tendency of the indentation to also be enlarged angularly of the surface making engagement with the electrode. This condition creates a tendency for an ineicient contact to be formed and also a tendency to produce unthreading of the holder Whereby conductive contact becomes inferior and the rigidity of the holder-electrode assembly is destroyed.

My construction avoids the difficulties just enumerated by providing a floating or swivel contact to eflect a conductive connection between the holder body and the electrode gripped by the holder. In Fig. 1 of the drawing the body I is shown as having a counterbore I3 which provides a radial shoulder I4 proximate the outer end ofthe body. The floating contact is shown at I6 and comprises a head portion II and a stem portion I8 of which the latter extends inwardly and slightly .beyond the shoulder I4. The inner end of the stem` portion I8 is upset in any suitable manner so that the Contact I is swivelly held in place upon the outer end of the body member I. It seems obvious that the end of the body member and the annular axially facing surface on the head II are complementary and engage to form a conductive connection between the head II and the body I.

Surrounding the outer end of the body member I and the contact I6 is acap member 2li which has a roughened peripheral surface 2l to provide desired adherence withA insulation 22 formed thereabout. The cap member is threaded internally for engagement with the threaded portion 4 on the body I. mmber 2i] is provided with a transverse opening 23 to receive the electrode I5.

The operationof the holder as thus far described is believed apparent. Bywayv ot suinmary it will be pointed out that an electrode Ito.-

be used by the holder is inserted in the opening ZS-Whereupony the capgmemberwiserotated to move suchmember axially of the4 body-member I whereby the electrode engages the endfsurface of thel floating contact'V I6. Continued relative rotation between. the cap lfllernber:Zita-ndI the body I effects` a clamping action between ,the floating contact and the electrode; At the same `time, however, and duri-ng the tightening process,` ther head yII will rotatefto some extent relative to' the.`

body I and will thus produce a wiping action whereby a desired electrical contact s.,provi`decl between the floating contact and the body. This feature vis of importance inasmuchas a certain amountl of oxidation occurs because.y of the ele'- vetted-,temperature which exists from the normal use of the holder.'v v

In- Fig. 3 the. floating contact. It differs from that shown in lig.` 1 inthat the outer surface is tapered at 25 andI they openingv 23: transversely of the cap member 2li.' meets Vthe-axisthereof at the sameansleasthe bevelfsurface 25. Asindicated in my copending application to which reference-is above made, this feature provides an in.

creased contacting surface, ,increased leverage'in the applicationfof pressureitov the electrode, and

holds the electrode at anv angle to the body ofthe holder, a position which is desirable with; some. operators and 'in effecting ,welds in 'areas otherwise relatively inaccessible.` Y

In Fig.y 4 the body I is shown as solid Aexcept for a bore 26` in the end thereof to receive the. stem I3 of the floating contactr I6. ment the stem: 28; isprovided with an annular groove 21 into-,whichaportion of the: wall surrounding the; bore 28 is displaced inwardlyas shown at .23, whereby the oating contact is desirably held in place upon the end of the body l Broadly, the invention comprehendsimprove" ments in electrode holderswhereby therei-is-provided a floatingV contact connection betweenthe holder body and the electrodeso that the elec,- trode isrmly and conductivelyattached=toA the body at all times.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode'holder comprising aigenerally cylindrical conducting member having one end thereof adaptedfor conductive attachment to a conductor cable, a handle of insulating material attached to said member and extending.v outwardly over 'said end, the electrode'endof said member extending. outwardly from the handle and havinga threaded, areafthereon, a contact swivelly mountedv on. saidmember, an annular transverse` contact face, thereon `engageable with wiping. contactaand-:a tweldrod', and a cap.mem.

Adjacent its outer end the capi In thisY embodiber threaded internally for engagement with said threaded area, there being a transverse opening through said member to receive an electrode and effect interengagement of the electrode and contact face, to insure a circuit with the conductive member by relative rotation between the conductive and cap members. v

2. In an electrode holder the Vcombination of, a conductive body member and a surrounding cap. member movable axially of each other upon relative rotation thereof, a contactimernber swivelly mounted upon the endof the body member withinfthe cap member, there being a transverse opening in the cap member to receive an electrode and effect a conductive connection from the body-through the contact member to the electrode when the body and cap member are moved axially toward each other, said contact member having` aflat end contact face to bear against the electrode across its width so as to clamp the electrode against the cap.

3. In an electrode.V holder the combination of, a `conductive body member having@ a peripheral threaded area thereon, an opening in the outerA end thereof, a contact-member swivelly mounted in openingandhaving anf annular surfaceV a capmember surrounding the end .of said-bodyA member and contact member andmovabl'e axially thereof upon relative rotation-.offthecap and bocgymembers.y K

5. Inan electrode. holder, a conductive body ha g an axial. bore, aI contact member mounted'ztl een, said contact member including ahead portion overlying the end 'of vthe -body a stenrintegral with said head portion extending into said bore, a peripheraligroove into said groove whereby the `contact s swivelly mounted upon the body -memanc means rotatabl-y-and-axially movable on bei,

with the end surface of the contact member: Y

5. In an electrode holder,v a conductivev body memberhaving an axial bere, a shoulder in said bore, a contact member mounted on the end-of* the body member, said Contact member including a head portion overlying the end of the body member and an integral stem extending into said bore, means on said stem engagea-ble W'rththe shoulder to swivelly hold 'the-contact member in position on the end of the body, and means rotatably mounted on the body and movable axially thereof to move an electrode into engagement4 with vthe end surface of the contactmember.

"I, In an electrode holder a contact member to makethe electrical connection-with the electrode, means to swivelly mount said member, andmeans to force the rodagainstsaidmember with a rotative action so as to improve the electrcalgcontact, said member ha-vinga cylindrical-head with .d body to move an electrode into engagement circular fiat end face to provide a line contact across its diameter so as to hold the electrode against tilting movement.

8. An electrode holder for welding comprising a handle, a conductive member, a cap telescoped over said member and threaded to move axially upon relative rotation, a pair of opposite electrode openings in the cap, a contact head rotate ably mounted at the end of said conductive member, a flat end face on said head to bear against the side of the electrode passed thru said openings whereby the electrode is clamped rigidly by screwing said cap on to said member and held against tilting by the flat face forcing the electrode against the side of the openings.

9. An electrode holder for welding comprising a handle, a conductive member, a cap telescoped over said member and threaded to move axially upon relative rotation, a pair of opposite electrode openings in the cap, a contact head rotatably mounted at the end of said conductive member, a at end face on said head to bear against the side of the electrode passed thru said openings whereby the electrode is clamped rigidly by screwing said cap on to said member and held against tilting by the flat face forcing the electrode against the side of the openings, said member and contact head having seating shoulders to transmit the thrust of the clamping action.

l0. An electrode holder for welding comprising a handle, a conductive member, a cap telescoped over said member and threaded to move axially upon relative rotation, a pair of opposite electrode openings in the cap, a contact head rotatably mounted at the end of said conductive member, a Ilat end face on said head to bear against the side of the electrode passed thru said openings whereby the electrode is clamped rigidly by screwing said cap on to said member and held against tilting by the at face forcing the electrode against the side of the openings, said cap having an insulating covering thereon.

ROY M. STAFFORD. 

